Which other symptoms commonly present with Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)?

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is characterized by a range of symptoms that arise in response to a traumatic event, and one of the hallmark features of ASD is the presence of dissociative symptoms. These symptoms can include depersonalization (feeling detached from oneself), derealization (experiencing the world as unreal), and an inability to remember important aspects of the trauma.

Dissociative symptoms serve as a protective mechanism during a time of high stress and trauma, allowing individuals to mentally distance themselves from the distressing experience. By contrast, while depression, unstable mood, and chronic insomnia can be associated with stress and trauma, they are not definitive symptoms of ASD. Dissociative experiences, which directly reflect the trauma's impact, particularly stand out as a core aspect of the disorder. Therefore, recognizing dissociative symptoms in the context of ASD is crucial for diagnosis and management, highlighting why this choice is aligned with the clinical features of Acute Stress Disorder.